Minotaur IV

Minotaur IV, also known as Peacekeeper SLV and OSP-2 PK, is a small-lift launch vehicle repurposed from the retired LGM-118 Peacekeeper, an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). It is operated by Northrop Grumman and first flew on April 22, 2010, carrying the HTV-2a Hypersonic Test Vehicle. Its first orbital launch occurred on September 26, 2010, placing the Space Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) satellite into orbit for the United States Air Force.

Part of the Minotaur family of solid-fuel launch vehicles repurposed from retired ICBMs, the four-stage Minotaur IV can deliver up to 1,591 kilograms (3,508 lb) to low Earth orbit. Its first three stages use decommissioned Peacekeeper missile motors, while the baseline fourth stage is an Orion 38. The enhanced Minotaur IV+ replaces this with a Star 48BV upper stage, while the three-stage Minotaur IV Lite omits the fourth stage for suborbital missions. A five-stage derivative, Minotaur V, flew on September 7, 2013.

Launches have been conducted from SLC-8 at Vandenberg Space Force Base, LP-0B at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, SLC-46 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and Pad 1 at the Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska.